If the football programs at Hampton and Phoebus can work together to solve an issue, can the Republicans and Democrats be far behind?

With Crabbers coach Mike Smith in something of a scheduling pickle, the Phantoms agreed to move the annual showdown between the Peninsula District powers up 24 hours to Nov. 1, a Thursday night. It will be the first time since 1997 that the game isn’t played on a Friday night.

The reason for the switch is that Smith’s daughter, Leigh-Taylor, is getting married in Charlottesville on Nov. 3, a Saturday. The rehearsal dinner is scheduled for Friday night, when the game was originally scheduled.

“He first mentioned something to me when we were voting for the all-region team in February, and I told him it would be no problem,” Phoebus coach Stan Sexton said. “How many times does your daughter get married?

“I have no problem doing it. What’s one less day (between games)? And the crowd will be just as big for a Thursday night game as it would be on Friday or Saturday.”

Smith was appreciative.

“Stan and them were kind of enough to agree to the change,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t want to have to miss the game.”

In his 41-year coaching career, Smith has only missed one game. That came on Nov. 21, 2003, against Phoebus in the Eastern Region semifinals. The Phantoms won that game 24-20.

Hampton leads the series, which began in 1976, 30-13. Phoebus had won six in a row before the Crabbers’ 13-10 overtime win last November.